Compound regulated mute



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,707

F. A. BERG COMPOUND REGULATED MUTE Filed Jan. 4, 1927 fifa/@Jafar Patented Jan. l, 1929.

UNITED v'STATESA FREDERICK BERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMPOUND `REG'ULA'JIEI) MUTE.

Application filed January 4, 1927. Serial No. 158,884.

My invention pertains to a compound regulatedmute, especially adapted and arranged for insertion in the'bell of a musical wind instrument. ,Y

The main object of the invention is to provide a mute which comprises a body having a portion substantially bell-shaped or concaved longitudinally on the exterior', to harmonize withand tit into the bell of a wind instrument, and which is then curved or convexed on the exterior and substantially bulb-` sleeve or vent port with a compound plunger mechanism, adjustably movable therein into the body, and having vent openings with shutter means therefor, providing a compound tone modilier. Another object is to construct the body so as to contain a liquid, for modifying the tone eliect, and so that the liquid may be used in addition to and in conjunction with the plunger mechanism.v A still further object is to provide holding strips or elements ot' frictional and compressiblematerial to be movably mounted in holes in the wall ot' t-he mute, and adjustable to adapt the mute forthebell of instruments otvarious sizes. Y

" Other objects and advantages are attained with my invention, as will become apparent from the following descriptiontaken in con-v nection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred forms of construction, and in which, l,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing my invention in the form of al mute particularly shaped to tit the bell of a Acornet or similar musical wind instrument; f

Fig. 2 is av letail view ot the plunger mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged'cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing my invention in the form of a. mute particularly adapted to tit the. bell of a saxaplione.

The particular form of vmy invention illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing comprises a 'substantially conical tubular body member having its smaller end or part 10 shaped like a bell or concaved longitudinally on the exterior, yto harmonize withan-d fit within the bell of a cornet or similar instrument 11, and having an air or sound receiving opening 12 at theinner or smaller end; while the larger or outer end of' the body is curved or convexed on the exterior providing a bulb-like portion 13, which terminates in a neck or sleeve 1-1 providino' a suitable outlet or vent port tor the outlet of part of the sound waves. This body is preferably made ot diri-gold steel, aluminum, or other suitable metal, and

may also be made of vitreous material, and isv bulbed to contain liquid.

The meansl for closing and controlling the vent port comprises a compound plunger means or mechanism including a tube 15 otl compressible and frictional material, like rubber, cork, or the like, slidably mounted in sleeve 111, to be moved and extended into the bodv or the mute; and an inner tube 16, preferably of metal, is mounted in tube 15 and movable therewith and lixed irmly thereto. The outer end of this tube 16 has a ydisk or member 17 threaded or removably mounted therein and containing vent openings n 17, while the inner end member`18 of this tube may be fixed orrintegral, and has openings 18 therein. A plate or disk 19 with openings 19 is placed adjacent' end disk 17, and a plate or disk20 with openings 20 is placed adjacent end member 18. A lever or rod 21, with outer handle means 21, is fastened to said disks 19 and 2O to turn them and register the openings 19 and 20 with the openings 17 and 1.8 simultaneously, to the desired extent, or to close the same, for producing the desired tonal effect. Index numbers 22 with suitable marks are placed on member 15 to provide graduated gage means. p

This compound plunger. means thus provides a combination or compound tone modilier fori the mute, as it may be moved and adj usted into the bod ot the mute to the desired extent, and the dis rs 19and 2O may be turned by means oi lever 21 to open and adjust or to close the sound emitting openings in the end members 17 and 18; and furthermore this plunger' mechanism may be used without the aid of any liquid in the mute, or may be used along with liquid thereim said liquid being gaged and varied by the index marks and numbers 23 on bulb portion 13, to produce the desired tonal ellect, especially a jazz effect.

The means for holding 4the mute in the bell of the instrument includes strips or members 2-1 of compressible and ytrictional material, such as rubber, cork, or suit-able composition, said strips being extended through holes 24 provided in the wall of the mute and being compressed therein to fully fill and close these till@ SOLlHCl TVZLVGS.

holes, and being adjustable in said holes to adapt them for mounting the mute in various sized instruments.

Thelform of construction illustratedin Fig. i is more particularly constructed for use with a saxophone, and this form also comprises a body containing a tubular or substantially bell-shaped portion 25, to harmonize with and tit in the bell of a saxophone 25, and having an air or sound receiving opening 26 at its smaller end 'Which Vis formed by an inwardly extending or inverted 'conical part or throat 26, while its opposite larger end or outer end is substantially closed by a convexed 4or bulbed portion 27 which is curi-od inwardly, as at 2'7, and terminates ina tubu lar neck or sleeve 28 which provides an outlet or vent port for the'passage of part of The body is adapted to contain liquid, and has index marks and numbers 29 provided, preferably near the conical throat '26', for gaging the amount of liquid usedfand it is preferably made of metal, like the precedingform.

The plunger fmechanism for this form of construct-ion, like in the preceding form, coinprise's lan outer tubular member 30 of compressi'ble land frictional material, like Vcork or rubber, slidably mounted in neck 28, and an inner tubular member -31,`preterably of metal, lixedly mounted therein and movable therewith. The outerend 'of this member 3l `has a disk 32 threaded therein and containing vent openings 32'; While the inner end 33 of said member '3l may be `fix-ed or integra-l and has vent. openings 33 therein. A vplate or disk 34 with "openings 34e and a vsimilar plate or disk 35 with lopenings 35 are placed respectively adjacent 'disks 32 'and 33, and a lever 36,'With 'a handle end 36, is fastened to 'said disks 3a and 35, 'or registering the openings 34: and 35 with the openings 32 and 33 simultaneously, yto adjuster to close the same; While index numbers and marks 37 on member 230 provide gage means for adjusting the plunger mechanism into the body of the mute.

Holding strips 38 are made `of compressible and frictional material, 'such as cork, rubber, or -the like, andare extended through holes 3S in the Wall of the mute, to completely ill and close said holes, and being adjustable therein for mounting the mute in various sized instruments.

In either of the forms of construction the compound plunger mechanism is adjusted in the neck of the mute to extend theparticula'r distance into the bulb portion of the body of the mute, to produce the desired tonal effect, andthe lever control means or shutter means is turned and adjusted to provide the necessary size oi vent openings to exactly harmonize with the particularA position of the plunger mechanism in the neck 'and in'to the body of the mute, thereby controlling` the effect of the mute as to sound and to volume longitudinally and entirely smooth Aonftne ex- Y terior to lit Within the bell of a Wind musical instrun'ient, `and is then convexed or bullied and terminates in a neck curved gradually from said bulbed lpart providing a vent. port.

2. A mute comprising a body which hasa Vpart with a sound opening and is concaved longitudinally on the exterior to tit in the bell of a wind musical instrument, and is then convexed or bulbed and terminates 'in a tubular neck providing a vent port, and means mounted in said neck to be 4adjustably movable 'into said body and for partly or en tirely closing said port.

3.- A mute comprising a body which has a bell-shaped part With a sound opening at the smaller end to suit the bell of a Wind musical instrument for mounting it there in, and is then bulb-shaped at the larger end to be vplaced outside of said bell, then terminates in a tubular neck providing `avent port, indices upon the body, a 'quantity of liquid adapted to be contained Within the body, the said indices ladapted to indicate the quantity of water in the body 'for modifying the tone elfe-ct.

fet. A mute comprising a body having 'a belLShaped part and a bulb-'shaped part thereon with a tubularneck `providing a vent port, there being a sound opening in said bell-shaped part and tubular means in said neck 'With vent openings at both ends and means for controlling the size of said openings at both ends simultaneously.

5. A mute comprising `a. body having a bell-shaped part and a bulb-shaped part thereon terminating in a tubular neck providing a vent port, there being asound open- Y in'g in said bell-shaped part, means mounted in said neck to be adjustably movable into said body and having ent openings, and shutter means for adjusting the size of said openings. Y

G. A mute comprising a vbody :shaped to tit the bell of a Wind musical instrument, 1having a sound inlet Eat the inner end and yterminating in'a tubular neck providing a Sound outlet 'at the other end, tubular inea-ns in said neck with openings at both-ends, Vand means Withvaha'ndle at the outer end for controlling said `openings vatfboth ends simultaneously.

7. A mute com'pr-isin fa body shaped to the bell-ot a. wind musical instru-ment, having a sound inlet at the inner end and terminating in a tubular neck providing a sound outlet at the other end, tubular means mounted in said neck to be adjustably movable into said body, and having means with vent openings at both ends, and disk means cooperat-` ing with both of said end means for adjusting and for closing both of the groups of end openings simultaneously.

8. A imite comprising a body having at one end a. sound inlet. opening and at the other a sound outlet in the form of a. tubular neck, a tubular member With rictional and compressible material on the exterior mounted slidably in said neck to be extended into said body, and having metallic means on the interior, and adjustable means on the ends of said tubular member arranged to simultaneously control both ends of said member for the passage of sound Waves therethrough.

9. A mute comprising a body having at one end a sound inlet opening and at the other a sound outlet in the form of a tubular neck, a tubular member slidabl'y mounted therein and having an exterior of frictional and compressible material and an interior or" metallic material, means at both ends of said member providing vent openings, and shutter means at said ends simultaneously operable for adjusting and for closing said openings, so as to harmonize With the position of said tubular member in said body.

10. A imite comprising a body mountable in the bell of a Wind musical instrument and having a sound inlet and opposite it a sound outlet in the form of a tubular neck, and plunger mechanism movably mounted in said neck to be extended into said body and having lever control means for modifying the effect of the mute as to sound and volume.

11. A mute comprising a tubular body having pairs of holes' in its Wall, and members ot' compressible and irict-ional material mounted each in a pair of said holes to completely close the same and for engaging the interior of an instrument.

12. AY mute comprising a tubular body having pairs of holes in its Wall, and strips of compressible and frictional material adjustably mounted each ina pair of said holes to completely close the same and being arrangeable in said holes to engage and lit in the bells of various sized instruments.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK A. BERG. 

